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Ng Kang-chung

More than half of people are unhappy about the Hong Kong government’s budget, with nearly 70 per cent of respondents calling measures to boost revenue inadequate, a survey has found.
The telephone poll, conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies from February 26 to March 11, also found that more than 60 per cent of the 711 respondents believed that the government had not done enough to cut its spending.
Respondents were also divided on new limits to be placed on the HK$2 fare concession scheme in Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s annual budget, with 50.2 per cent supporting the changes and about 45 per cent opposing them.
Releasing the poll results on Friday, institute associate director Victor Zheng Wan-tai said: “From the survey findings, people’s reactions to the budget can be said to be mild.
“People in general do not think the government has done enough to boost revenue and cut costs. But people do appreciate that we are experiencing an economic slowdown.
“If Paul Chan had proposed a lot of fee rises to boost government revenue, it could affect people’s livelihoods. Likewise, if Chan had resorted to cutting the pay of civil servants to reduce expenditure, it could have had ripple effects and affected the private market. It could have hit civil servants’ morale, too.”
The survey was conducted to gauge people’s views on the 2025-26 budget, which Chan unveiled on February 26.
In general, 55 per cent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the budget. Only 8 per cent said they were satisfied with it, and another 32.9 per cent replied they felt “in between”.
Asked whether the budget measures would be enough to help the government increase revenue, 68.5 per cent of respondents considered them “inadequate” or “very inadequate”. Only 23.2 per cent said they were “adequate” or “very adequate”.

Measures proposed in the budget to increase government revenue included increasing fees for various talent and capital investor admission schemes, as well as the air passenger departure tax. Government tunnel tolls, licensing fees and fixed penalties for traffic offences will also be reviewed.
On cost-cutting, 63.3 per cent of respondents said the measures were “inadequate” or “very inadequate”, while 28.7 per cent considered them “adequate” or “very adequate”.
As part of the government’s efforts to rein in a deficit of HK$87.2 billion in the current financial year, Chan announced a pay freeze for civil servants, lawmakers and district councillors for 2025-26.
The government will also cut 10,000 civil service posts by April 2027, as well as use more innovative technology to boost efficiency.
It also plans to cap the HK$2 scheme at 240 trips per month per eligible passenger, and give only an 80 per cent discount for rides with fares exceeding HK$10.
The scheme currently provides a flat fare rate of HK$2 for those aged 60 or above, and the change, to come no later than September 2026, is expected to help save the government HK$6.2 billion in the next five years.
The poll found that respondents who do not benefit from the scheme were less critical of the adjustments.
About 39 per cent of them opposed the adjustments compared with 54.5 per cent of those aged 60 or above who disagreed with the changes.


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Survey respondents also divided on adjustments to HK$2 fare concession scheme


Survey respondents also divided on adjustments to HK$2 fare concession scheme.


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Most see cost-cutting moves as inadequate in ‘mild’ Hong Kong budget: survey

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Survey respondents also divided on adjustments to HK$2 fare concession scheme

Survey respondents also divided on adjustments to HK$2 fare concession scheme